What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Montpelier has the oldest population (median age 46.7).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	East Montpelier	Plainfield
People
Population	2,612Highest	2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.7±4Highest 20% above U.S.	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	East Montpelier and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	East Montpelier and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,778±$21kLowest 15% above U.S.	$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Plainfield and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,700±$32kLowest 14% above U.S.	$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S.
	Plainfield and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,187±$131Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,868Lowest 88% above U.S.	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.3%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	22 minHighest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	21.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	East Montpelier and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#15 of 70 in VT	#19 of 120 in NH
School district	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92	Plainfield School District
High school in town	U-32 Middle & High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.